Aligning fixture for assembling sheet piling



2,968,931 n ALIGNING FIXTURE FOR ASSEMBLING SHEET FILING Filed March 4, 1959 L. J. MCGRATH Jan. 24, 1961 s sheets-smet 1 KINwAY, JENNEY, wmIR I Hamam Jan. 24, 1961 L. .L MCGRATH 2,968,931

ALIGNING FIXTURE FOR AssEMBLING SHEET FILING Filed March 4, 1959 e sheets-sheet 2 y KENwAY, JENNEY, wmER & Hmmm awww.;

ALIGNING FIXTURE FOR ASSEMBLING SHEET FILING Filed March 4, 1959 Jan. 24, 1961 L. J. MCGRATH i S Sheets-Sheet 3 49 s /lnnmm KENWAY, JENNEY, WITTER & HILDRETH Jan. 24, 1961 L. J. MGGRATH` 2,968,931

ALIGNIYNG FIXTURE FOR ASSEMBLING SHEET FILING Filed March 4, 1959 I s sheets-sheet 4 46 54 l eo a3 57 a3 III I l 49N` 515: l l .58 es as I u: I fifi 6' I l, Q es I /2 /0 r T m 4 7 p g ae Jan. 24, 196i L. J. MCGRATH 2,968,931

ALIGNING FIXTURE FOR AssEMBLING SHEET FILING Filed March 4, 1959 e sheets-sheet 5 57 i? all e8 17 ly xiNwAY, JENNEL wmER E Hummm' vozmey's 2,968,931 ALIGNING FIXTURE FOR ASSEMBLING SHEET FILING Filed March 4, 1959 L. J. MCGRATH Jan. 24, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 KENWAY, JENNEY, WITTER & HILDRETH doaaey/s ALIGNING FIXTURE FOR ASSEMBLING SHEET FILING Leonard I. McGrath, 44 Sherman St., Roxbury, Mass.

Filed Mar. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 797,168

10 Claims. (Cl. 61-63) This invention relates to xtures for automatically aligning steel piling sheets into assembling relation. Such sheets are of heavy construction and relatively long and are driven into the earth to provide shoring, cotferdams, etc. Each added sheet must be lifted by a derrick to bring its lower edge above the top edge of the preceding partially driven sheet and a man must be at the top of the latter for guiding the elevated sheet into edge to edge interlocking relation with the adjacent groove of the driven sheet, after which the latter sheet is lowered into telescopic relation with the driven sheet. The aligning of the sheets presents a considerable problem and the guide man frequently is in a precarious pcsition, especially on a windy day. The primary object of the invention resides in the production of a iixture adapted to be associated with the two sheets to be assembled and automatically shift the free sheet laterally into assembling alignment when the free sheet has been raised longitudinally to a position free of the fixed sheet, thereby eliminating the need for the guide man and rendering the alignment completely automatic. i

More specifically the fixture comprises a body member provided with means for clamping it to the bottom end of the free sheet and means for so slidingly engaging it with the adjacent marginal flange of the xed sheet that the free sheet is held in parallel and adjacent relation thereto as the free sheet is raised. Self-acting power means, preferably spring loaded, is provided on the body member for automatically shifting the free sheet laterally into assembling alignment with the iixed sheet when the free sheet is raised to a position free of the xed sheet. The production of a novel fixture of this nature and for the purpose described comprises a further object of the invention.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary front elevation of sheet piling being assembled in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a plan view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation like Fig. l but showing the free piling sheet in raised position above and free of the adjacent fixed piling sheet,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view corresponding to Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view corresponding to Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevation of the right hand side of the mechanism as shown in Fig. l,

Fig. 8 is a like elevation of the left hand side thereof,

Fig. 9 is a view taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view showing the ange engaging jaws in open position.

The fixture shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a body member in the form of a heavy metal plate 1% having a broad and U-shaped transverse portion 12 ,j spagaat Patented Jan.. 24, 1961 ICC adapted to receive the bottom end of a piling sheet 14 thereinto as shown in Figs. l and 9. In Figs. 1-4 I have illustrated fixed piling sheets 15 assembled in interlocked relation at their adjacent longitudinal margins and disposed to be driven into the ground. Each longitudinal margin of each sheet is provided with a C-shaped ange 16 adapted to receive and interlock with a like marginal flange of an adjacent sheet as illustrated in Fig. 6. The fixture is clamped to and carried by the loose sheet 14 and is adapted to maintain the adjacent anges 16 of the Sheets 14 and 15 in parallel and juxtaposed relation by loose sliding engagement of jaws 18 and 20 of the xture with the flange 16 of the ixed sheet 15, all as hereinafter specilically described.

The plate 10 is drilled at 22 (Fig. 9) to receiveslidably therethrough and in spaced relation two pairs of rods 23 and 24. The rods 23 are relatively long and are rigidly aiixed at their ar ends to a plate 25 welded to and supporting a long vertical bar 26 comprising a portion of the jaw 18. This jaw also includes two spaced and parallel supporting arms 27 welded to the bar. The jaw 2t) comprises two spaced arms 2S pivoted to the arms 27 by a bolt 3i) and having their free ends welded to a long vertical shoe 32 shaped to correspond to the piling flange to be engaged. The jaws 18 and 2i] are held in the closed position illustrated in Fig. 6 by a removable locking pin 33 extending through registering holes 31 (Fig. l0) in the arms 27 and 28 and parallel with and adjacent to the bolt 30.

Welded to and extending laterally from the shoe is a plate 34 having two rods 35 rigid therewith and normally in alignment with the rods 24 when the jaw 20 is in closed position, as in broken lines in Fig. 10. The rods 24 and 35 are connected at their adjacent ends by a slotted hinge joint including a plurality of links 36. The connection is made by bolts 37 and 3S extending through the ends of the links and through the adjacent ends of the rods 24 and 35. The ends of the links adjacent to the rods 35 are slotted at 40 to permit sliding movement of the bolt 37 inwardly along the links and a releasable latch plate 41 notched at 42 is provided for engaging this bolt and holding it in its outermost position in the slots. When the latches 41 are closed, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the latches and links provide a substantially rigid connection between the rods 24 and 35 and Ihold the parts in the position illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

A compression spring 44 is mounted on each rod 23 and 24 between a nut 45 thereon and the plate 10, and these springs normally hold the rods in the positions shown in Fig. 6. In this position plates 46 and 47, welded respectively to the rods 23 and 24, are in abutting contact with the plate 1li. The xture is clamped securely to the piling sheet 14 by a U-shaped clamping element 48 having its two legs extending through one of the U-shaped walls 12 and into engagement with the sheet. The clamping force is provided by a cam 49 in engagement with an abutment 50 on the element 48 and having a rotating arm 51, the cam being supported on a bracket 52 xed to the plate 10.

The springs 44 normally hold the rods 23 and 24 in position wherein the plates 46 and 47 are in contact with the plate 1t), as shown in Fig. 6, and in order to clamp a piling sheet 14 thereto in the relative position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 it is necessary to retract the plate l@ to the position shown in Fig. 5. The following means is provided for this purpose.

A second plate 54 is spaced from the plate 46 and welded to the rods 23 and a lever 56 is pivoted to the plate 54 at 57. A lug 58 carried by the lever is disposed to engage the free end of a pin 6l) iixed to the plate 1t) and extending loosely through the plates 46 and 54, and clockwise rotation of the lever is adapted to retract :slot .63 .inthe lever and hold -ithe .parts .in vthe retracted position.

The plate-47 carries a pin 64 extendingloosely through the vplate 1t) and ,a lever k66 pivoted `to one end of .the

plate 1f) at 68 carries a vlug 7.0 disposed Vto Vengage the free end of the pin. Clockwise `rotation of the lever is adapted to -retract the plate 10 on the `rods 23; illustrated in Fig. `8. vA pin 71 carried by the plate 1i? vextends through a slot 72 in the lever and a latch 74 pivoted to the lever at 75 is adapted to engage the pin and hold the parts in retracted position.

The mannerof using the fixture .to assembleuthe `free sheet 14 into interlocking engagement with the fixed sheet 15 is substantially as follows:

(l) The locking Lpin 33 is removed, the jaws 18 ,and 20 are opened and then placed-in opposed relation onto the liange 16 of the fixedsheet 15, and the pin is replaced, thus locking the jaws and into sliding engagement with the flange as shown lin Fig. 6.

(2) The levers 56 and 66 are then operated to retract the body 10 to the position shown in Fig. 5, and the latches 61 and 74 are then placed to retain the parts in this retracted position.

(3) The piling sheet 14 is then lowered into the U- shaped -portion 12 -of .the body .10 and, with the flange 16 ofthe sheets 14 and 15 in face to face contact as illustrated in Figs. v1, 2 and 7, the clamp 49 is rotated to firmly clamp the sheet to the fixture.

(4) The latches 61 and 74- are then released whereupon the expanding action of the springs hold the fianges resiliently in said face to face contact.

(5) The sheet 14, together with the fixture, are then elevated vertically to a position wherein the bottom of the sheet 14 clears the top of the sheet 15 (Figs. 3 and 4). The springs 44 thereupon shift the sheet 14 laterally to the position permitted by the stops 46 and 47 (Figs. 3, 4 and 6) in which position the two flanges 16 are in assembling alignment.

(6) The sheet 14 is then lowered into telescoped and interlocked engagement with the sheet 15.

(7) When the fixtureis near its bottom position, the pin 33 is withdrawn and the cam 49 reversely rotated to free the sheets, whereupon the fixture is removed and is ready for use in assembling the next sheet.

As illustrated in Fig. 9 several pairs of holes 22 are provided in varying .spaced relation along the plate 10 for receiving the rods 23 and 24, thus accommodating the rods to snacings corresponding to sheets 14 and- 15 of different widths.

While I have herein, particularly in the interest of economy and simplicity, disclosed the employment of spring-loaded and self-acting power means for shifting the loose piling sheet -into `assembling alignment with the fixed sheet, it will be apparent that other suitable and self-acting power means, such for example as operates electro-magnetically or pneumatically, can be employed and are within the scope of my invention.

Having thus disclosed my invention what I .claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fixture for automatically positioning a free pilingV sheet into alignment for engaging a flanged longitudinal margin thereof telescopically into interlocking relation with the adjacent flanged longitudinal margin of a fixed piling sheet, comprising a sheet supporting body, means for attaching the body in longitudinal sliding relation onto said flanged longitudinal margin of the fixed sheet, means on the body for Vclamping the free sheet thereto with said'margins of the two sheets in juxtaposed and parallel relation, means including self-acting power mechanism carried by said body land operative automatically to move the free sheet laterally toward the fixed sheet when the :free sheet is vmoved longitudinally to a position beyond and free `of the fixed sheet, and stop means for limiting such lateral movement to a position wherein said adjacent anged margins of the sheets are in said alignment.

2. The fixture defined in claim l in which said means for moving the free sheet laterally comprises spring loaded mechanism carried by .said body and anchored to the first named means.

3. A fixture `.for automatically positioning a free piling sheet into alignment for `engaging Aa flanged longitudinal margin thereof .telescopically into interlocking relation with the adjacent flanged longitudinal margin of :a fixed piling sheet, comprising `a sheet supporting body, means for attaching the body in longitudinal sliding relation onto said flanged longitudinal margin of the fixed sheet, means on the body for clamping the free sheet thereto with said margins of the two sheets in juxtaposed and parallel relation, .and spring loaded means carried by Vsaid body and .anchoredto the first named means in position biasing said flanged longitudinal margin of the free' sheet laterally into contact with said flanged longitudinal margin of the `fixed sheet and shifting the free sheet into said alignment whenthe free sheet is 'moved longitudinally to a position beyond and free ofthe fixed sheet.

4. A fixture for automatically positioning a free piling sheet into alignment for engaging a flanged longitudinal margin thereof Atelescopica'lly .into interlocking relation with the adjacent flanged longitudinal margin of a fixed piling sheet, comprising a sheet supporting body, 4means including opposed jaws yfor slidably engaging therebetween said flanged longitudinal Vmargin of the fixed Apiling sheet, rods extending loosely through said body and connected tonsaid means, means on the body for clamping the free sheet thereto with said margins of the two sheets in juxtaposed and parallel relation, springs on Vthe rods normally moving `said body toward the jaws and .said margin of the free sheet into contact with the adjacent margin of the Vfixed sheet, said springs being adapted to move said body and free sheet into position overlapping the .fixed sheet when the free sheet is moved longitudinally to a position free of the fixed sheet, and stop means for limiting such movement to a position wherein the adjacent flanged margins of lthe two sheets are in .said alignment.

5. The fixture defined in claim 4 plus means for retracting the body along the rods against the springs and .in a direction Vaway from said jaws, and releasable means for 4holding the body vin retracted position.

6. The Vfixture defined in claim 4 in which said jaws comprise -a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted thereto, means rigidly connecting certain of sailrods to and supporting the fixed jaw thereon, means including'links connecting the other rods to the movable jaw and including means for holding the movable jaw in closed position relative to the fixed jaw or for pivotal movement to open position.

7. The fixture defined in claim 6 in which the last named means includes a releasable latch adapted in closed position to hold the movable jaw in its closed position and adapted in open position to permit pivotal opening Vmovement of the movable jaw, and auxiliary means lincluding a removable locking pin extending through both jaws for holding them in closed relation.

8. A fixture `for automatically positioning a free piling sheet into alignment for engaging a lflanged longitudinal margin thereof telescopically into interlocking relation with the adjacent flanged longitudinal margin of a fixed piling sheet, comprising a sheet supporting body, means including two pivotally connected jaws for slidably en gaging therebetween said flanged longitudinal margin of the fixed vpiling sheet, two pairs of rods extending loosely and in laterally spaced relation through said body, means connecting one pair of said rods rigidly to one of said jaws, means including a slotted hinge joint connecting the other pair of rods to the movable jaw and including means for either holding the movable jaw in closed position relative to the fixed jaw or permitting pivotal movement of the movable jaw to open position, means on the body for clamping the free piling sheet thereto with said margins of the two sheets in juxtaposed and parallel relation, springs on the rods normally moving said body toward the jaws and said margin of the free sheet into contact with the adjacent margin of the xed sheet, said springs being adapted to move said body and free sheet into position overlapping the xed sheet when the free sheet is moved longitudinally to a position free of the fixed sheet, and stop means for limiting such movement to a position wherein the adjacent anged margins of the -two sheets are in said alignment.

9. The fixture defined in claim l in which said means including power mechanism is anchored to the rst named means in position biasing said flanged longitudinal margin of the free sheet laterally into contact with the anged longitudinal margin of the fixed sheet and automatically shifting the free sheet into alignment with the free sheet is moved longitudinally to a position beyond and free of the fixed sheet.

10. A xture for automatically positioning a free piling sheet into alignment for engaging a flanged longitudinal margin thereof telescopically into interlocking relation with the adjacent anged longitudinal margin of a ixed piling sheet, comprising a sheet supporting body, means including opposed jaws for slidably engaging therebetween said tianged longitudinal margin of the iixed piling sheet, rods extending loosely through said body and connected to said means, means on the body for clamping the free sheet thereto with said margins of the two sheets in juxtaposed and parallel relation, self-acting power mechanism carried by the body and including means for moving the body toward said jaws to engage and hold said margin of the free sheet in contact with the adjacent margin of the fixed sheet and move said body and free sheet into position overlapping the xed sheet when the free sheet is moved longitudinally to a position free of the iixed sheet, and stop means for limiting such movement to a position wherein the adjacent anged margins of the two sheets are in said alignment.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,122,835 Deros July 5, 1938 2,161,482 Miller et al June 6, 1939 2,583,928 Caudill Jan. 29, 1952 2,833,119 Molloy May 6, 1958 

